Woman who fought off a robber died weeks later

Jean Austin had come to the city to visit her elderly mother in October last year and was having a cup of tea in the Hopmarket with her sister when Gareth Brown pounced.

She was dragged on to the ground as he tugged at her bag and a table and chair fell on top of her.

But Brown fled empty-handed because brave Mrs Austin clung on to her bag.

He was identified by police from CCTV footage and arrested three days later.

Mrs Austin had been recovering from a serious road accident, said Jonas Hankin, prosecuting during Brown's trial at Worcester Crown Court.

The experience left her "very bitter" and she vowed not to visit Worcester for a long time. But she died from a pulmonary embolism in January, said Mr Hankin.

Jailing Brown, of Selborne Road, Worcester, for two years, Judge Alistair McCreath pointed out the victim's death had nothing to do with the crime, but said: "It's hard to imagine how ghastly this must have been.

"No weapon was used, but this was a serious example of the use of significant force to cause unpleasant injuries. The victim was a vulnerable woman in poor physical health. This attack was very distressing indeed."

Brown, who admitted assault with intent to rob, left Mrs Austin with a wrenched shoulder, skin abrasions and pain in her neck, stomach, foot and wrist.

She was already recovering from internal injuries and others to her shoulder, neck, chest and stomach following the car crash.

Defence counsel Abigail Nixon said 41-year-old Brown - who had been an engineer for 15 years and was responsible for security and maintenance at two stately homes - had expressed remorse for his actions.

Two months before the offence, he was devastated by his father's suicide and turned to alcohol and heroin.